Of course, this is a very “- ish” calculation, based roughly on the size of our queen size batting.

And here comes the
long answer:

When it comes to making a patchwork quilt, there is NO such thing as “standard” size. For example – what I consider
to be a perfect queen bed size might be very different to what you have in mind.

So the best way is to have a look at the particular style of your bed and how far you want it to hang over the sides
(do you just want it to fit on top of the mattress area? Or do you want a fair bit to hang over the edge to have
the “valance” effect? Do you want it to be long enough to cover the pillow? Or do you want it just long enough to
cover the person?)

Once you’ve worked out the dimensions of the finished quilt, it is easy to count how many of these squares you actually
need – assuming you are just going to join them straight up as squares in rows.

For example –

Each square from a Charm Pack is 5 x 5 inches, so take the seam allowances into consideration, you end up with 4
1/2 squares (which is around 11 cm x 11 cm).

It’s easy to see how many squares you need in total to cover the quilt dimension you have in mind (allow a bit extra
because quilting can eat up the overall size a bit). Then you can work out how many packs you need – there
are normally 42 squares per pack.

How on earth did you work that out?

Easy, and I will explain – but first, do consider a few things….

Australian Bed Size

Most of the books and patterns in the patchwork world are written with common US bed sizes in mind.

To make sure the quilt you’re making will look good on your bed, here are the Australian standard mattress sizes:

Now – here are the Common USA Quilt Sizes:

The first row of measurements shows the bed size, and the second row shows the quilt size. All in inches.

Quilt Size / Shape Considerations

Mattress / Bed sizes aside, your actual quilt size will still vary a lot, depending WHERE the quilt is going to spend
the most time.

If it’s simply going to be hung on a wall, then it’s quite straight forward – simply measure the wall space.

And if the quilt will be placed on a bed, then thank about all the different configuration that your bed could be. After
all, not all beds are placed in the middle of the room with space all around!

Here are some examples – with some design notes below:

1. This quilt is large enough to drape over three sides of the bed, giving a “valance” effect. Note how the clever border
design really frames the bed.

2. If your bed has a header and footer, then it’s best to have drapes only on the two sides – this way the quilt looks
neat and making the bed is easy!

3. It’s easy and effective to simply sew charm pack squares together, and see how an over-sized quilt looks causal, comfy
and inviting.

4. For a more traditional look, put boarders on three sides and allow extra to cover the pillows, with applique for definition.

5. A day bed only really needs drape on the front side, and a few charm packs are all you need!

6. If your quilt is too small to cover the whole bed, not to worry. Just drape it over the the bed frame casually to
add instant personality to any room.

7. Jelly Roll strips make this quilt one of the quickest and easiest. Notice how the quilt finishes at the top edge of
the mattress with more lengths to cover the pillows.

8. Stitching up Layer Cake squares is probably the fastest way to put a quilt together, especially for a cot!

9. Sometimes all you need is a bed runner over your doona cover. a few Jelly Roll strips and a border becomes your very
own original. A quick and satisfying project.

10. This sort of look is known as “bed topper”, where the quilt covers just the top of the mattress, with minimal or
no drape over the sides. This works well with bold and modern designs.

Other Things to Consider?

Block size and overall designs. I shall discuss these in details in a separate article….

Just a quick mention: some quilt blocks look better in pairs, while other look better if you have odd numbers of blocks
in rows. Have a play!

Precut Fabric Coverage

Assuming you are just sewing the pieces together, straight out of ONE pre-cut pack with no other additional fabrics –
this is the coverage area you’d get:

Remember, your batting / backing needs to be 3 to 4 inches (7 cm to 10 cm) bigger than your quilt top around all sides,
because you need to allow some movements during machine / hand quilting, and also be able to trim and square up before
binding.

Inspired?

Can’t wait to have a go? Here are some
pre-cut fabric to get you started….

I make quilts for Aussie Heroes Quilts and Laundry bag charity and their size is 42 by 75. This is the size to fit on the bunk of the ships.

- Sue N.

Hi this information is extremely useful, I live in NZ and don't have any kind of way of knowing how much material is required to make a quilt. I am just starting out at this and appreciate all the help I can get. Ta heeps

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